28th Week in Ordinary Time
Callistus

1st Reading: Rom 2:1–11
Gospel: Lk 11:42–46
Jesus said, “A curse is on you, Pharisees; for the Temple you give a tenth of all, including mint and rue and the other herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. This ought to be practiced, without neglecting the other. A curse is on you, Pharisees, for you love the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplace. A curse is on you for you are like tombstones of the dead which can hardly be seen; people don’t notice them and make themselves unclean by stepping on them.”
Then a teacher of the Law spoke up and said, “Master, when you speak like this, you insult us, too.” And Jesus answered, “A curse is on you also, teachers of the Law. For you prepare unbearable burdens and load them on the people, while you yourselves don’t move a finger to help them.”

Commentary
Jesus utters a series of woes against the Pharisees. The negative implications of these woes are substantial. First the Pharisees tithe mint, rue, and every herb, which they should do, but they have neglected the more important things: justice and the love of God. The Pharisees’ love of money and their love of honor prevent them from loving God and God’s justice. Jesus’ judgment of their actions clearly portrays them as being greedy for social prominence. The grasping after honors is an essential part of their greediness.
The seat of honor in the synagogue was, of course, a place of prominence, as was sitting at the head table at dinner. To be greeted first by another person was a sign of respect that acknowledged the honor of another. The Pharisees’ abused social relationships; they were especially indifferent to the plight of the poor. Their greediness for social honors also explains more fully why Christ’s public rebuke to them was so strong. Persons who grasp after honor indiscreetly are still today reprimanded so that their pretensions to superiority may be illuminated and effectively eliminated. Today, Christ emphatically declares that religious standing should not be used to enhance one’s status in society.

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